Permutation-lock



(Model.) F.A S. BALDWIN:

PBRMUTATION LOCK.-

No. 254,450. Patented Mar. 7,1882,

In ven 011:

M? Mg/y dw, vj @QAM/v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK S. BALDWIN, OF ST'. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

PERM UTATlON-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,450, dated'March 7, 1882.

y Application IiledNovemher 9, i881. (Model.)

To all whom t may concern Beit known that I, FRANK s. BALDWL'mtf St. Louis, Missouri, have made a new and useful Improvement in Permutation-Locks, ot' which the following is a full, clear, and exact io proved lock; Fig. 2, a view in perspective of one set of the movable parts of the lock, the parts being-shown detached from each other; Fig. 3, a vertical section taken through a drawer having the lock; Fig. 4, a view in perspective of one of the stops; Fig. 5, a section taken through one of the inner disks, and Fig. 6 a section taken through one of the outer disks.

The same letters denote the same parts. zo The present invention is au improvement in that class of permutation-locks wherein a series of duplicateknobs, dials, and disks is employed, the various members of the series, while acting in combination, being separated from each other.

It relates partly to the means used in pre.

venting the position ot' the inner disks from being'determined by one endeavoring to pick the lock; partly to the means for aligning the 3o disks, and partly to the means for preventing the disks from being detached from the spin-A dle by friction produced by pulling the knob outward, so as to cause the disks to bear flatwise against the plate or other part ofthe cou- 3 5 struction, and sufficiently, unless prevented as described, to cause the disks to become loosened and detached from the spindle. v

Referring to the drawings, A represents a lock of the class referred to, and having the 4o improvement under consideration, having the plate B, the tubes C C C, the knobs D D D,

the dials E E E, the spindles F F F, the disks,

/G G G, the disks H H H, the screwsI I- I, and

the stops J J J. The tubes G, as well as the tubes for holding the stops J, are attached permanently to the plate B, projecting toward the outer side of the drawer or door to which the lock is attached. The spindles F are inserted in the tubes O, passing from the outer 5o end thereof just through the plate B, and coming even with the inner end of the tube. The

spindles, at their inner ends, are perforated longitudinally to receive thefscrews I. They are also notched at f. The screws I are used to fasten the disks G and H to the spindles, the disks G' being next to the spindles, and the disksfH next to the disks G. The disks G, in addition 'to the slotsg g, which are arranged radially in the disks, have the projections g, and the disks H have the slots h and the projections 71.', which last-named parts project toward the disks G, and are made to tit into the slots g. and when the parts are in place the projections g engage in the notches fof the spindles.

The plateB constitutes the frame of the lock, having the flange b, and being slotted at b b b to receive the catches K.

The dials E havel the, usual numerals, as shown, and they may have projections e upon their faces. Each dial is in one pie'ce with the knob and spindle, and when the screw I is screwed up the knob, dial, spindle, and disks turn as one piece, and as they turn the slots g g come successively opposite the stop J. rlhe latter is pressed toward the disks by means of the spring j, causing the stop to enter the slots g as they are successively presented. The head j of the stop, however, is rounded or beveled, enabling the knob and dial to be rotated by the operator, the stop retreating into the tube j2 as each space between two consecutive notches is presented. The movements of the stop proot' slots passing the stop, and thus locating, when the relative position of the stop to the other parts of the lock is known, the position of the notch h. The chief aim of the stop, however, and for this purpose it presses with sufficient force into the notches g, is to insure the proper alignment of the disks G and E with reference to the slot b in the plate B, and s o as to cause the slots g and h to come successively exactly opposite the slot b. Each one of the slots g in the disk G coincides in size with the slot h of the disk H, and when the disks G and H arc placed against each other one of the slots g coincides with the slot h, as seen in Fig. 1, and when the disks G H are turned so as to bring the slot h opposite the slot b the drawer or door can be opened, the catch K passing through the slot. Now, the

duce a clicking sound, indicating the number.

series of slots g in the disk G provide, as hereinafter explained, for the changing ofthe combination of the lock. They, however, are especially valuable in this: When the two disks G H are together in position the notches gsaving that notch for the time being opposite and in coincidence with the notch L-constitute a series of what may be termed false notches, into which the catch K falls when the drawer or door is drawn out by a person aiming to pick the lock, for it is customary on the part of those attempting to pick locks of the presentkind to draw the locking-diskHagainst the catclnrand then turn the disk around until the slot therein is opposite the catch, whereupon the catch enters the slot, indicating the position of that disk t'or opening` the lock, and then having located the proper position of one disk proceed similarly in locating the positions of the remaining disks. This procedure is interfered with in the present case, the ycatch entering the false notches as fast as theyare presented, serving to constantly mislead the operator, who cannot tell whether the catch has entered the single true opening or one of the many false openings. So far as this especial feature of the improvement is concernedthe disks G andH might be a single piece, having one opening-such as h-extendingentirely through the disk, and a series of indentations ot shape and size suitable for allowing the catch to enter therein 5 butby making the disks Gand Hseparate pieces lthe combination ofthe lock can be changed,which is done by loosening the screw sufficiently to enable the projection h of the disk H to be withdrawn from the notch g of the disk G and then turning the disk H (relatively to the disk G) around as desired, then inserting the projection 7L in another of the notches g, and then tightening the screw I, as before.

The disk G, by reason of the projections y enteringthe notches f of the spindle, preserves a constant relation to the dial. These projections gand mode of uniting thedisks G H and spindle also serve to prevent the various parts of the lock from being` detached from each other by drawing the disks hard against the plate B and then turning the knob around with a view to unscrewing the screw I, which might occnritthe disk could be turned upon the spindie. The projections g prevent'this, the disks and screw turning with the spindle.

In the presentiliustration three sets ot'knobs, dials, spindles, disks, and stops are used in combination, enabling one thousand combinations to be employed. may 'consist of-any desired number.

The lock is operated in the customary manner, turning the various knobs and dials to suit' the combination for the time being used. The lock can also be operated in the dark,in which case theprojections c upon the dials are brought into use, and the desired positions of the disks obtained by touching the projections e and listening to and counting the clickings ofthe stops J.

l claimt 1. A permutation-lock having, in combination, the spindle F, having the notchesf, the disks G, having the projections g', and the slots g, the disk H, having the projection It', and the screw I, substantially as described.

2. The combination ot' the disk G, having the' notches g, the disk H, having the slot h, the spindle F, the plate B, and the stop J,sub stantially as described.

FRANK S.` BALDVIN.

The series, however, 

